Manto Movie Review
Manto: An honest effort to understand Manto
Manto is the story of Saadat Hasan Manto, a noted Pakistani author and playwright. Born in 1912 in a small village in Ludhiana, Punjab, British India, Manto died at an early age of 42 in Lahore, Pakistan. This movie is a tribute to the prolific writer born and brought up in India.
Story
Saadat Hasan Manto is on top of his writing career in Mumbai when the news of partition and making of Pakistan breaks in. Unaware about the consequences of the partition, Manto keeps enjoying his association with his actor friends including Shyam Chadda and Ashok Kumar. He also allows his wife to attend her sister’s wedding in Lahore amid the uproar of partition.
Unaware about his Muslim identity, Manto remains unmoved by creation of Pakistan until his religion makes him a foe for his Hindu friends. Shaken by the harsh reality, Manto decides to leave for Pakistan to start a new life but it never starts. Pakistani law strangulates the writer in Manto resulting in him becoming an alcoholic. Finally Manto admits himself into a rehabilitation center in Lahore to get rid of alcohol.
Highlight of the movie:
- Veteran actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui is essaying the role of Saadat Hasan Manto
- Compulsions of the writer are described in detail
- Story of partition and its repercussions on both the communities told in a new way
Manto First Look & Poster
The poster is made to look like a book-cover because the movie is the biopic of a writer. It is a black-and-white poster with a sketch of Nawazuddin Siddiqui wearing glasses. The poster is cut with a thick dark brown from top left corner to show the divide.
Why watch the movie?
How the director weaves life and events of Manto between two countries is a thing to be seen. The movie would attract all sections of society including kids.
Movie Trailer
Trivia:
- The movie is based on the time of partition
- Multiple producers are roped in the movie
- Nawazuddin Siddiqui is working on another biopic Thackarey
- It is the true
